Wenatchee Marathon and Girl's Weekend!

What a fabulous weekend we had in Wenatchee. I couldn't ask for better friends(and family), weather and the whole reason we were there, a marathon!!!
Not one thing went wrong, unless you count me pulling in the garage with the Thule on before we left. It only scrapped the top and I managed to free myself with the help of a few neighbors.

This picture is at some bike shop where we picked up our packets. Little did we know what was in store for us the next day. This race was hard for me. I guess they all are but I was tired at mile 19 and ready to pack it in. Luckily I had a awesome friend (Jill)that had done the half and was finished and so she ran the last 7 miles with me. I couldn't have done it without her. I did beat my last marathon time , but only by 7 minutes. I'm really trying hard to hit the 4:30 mark when I do the Green River Marathon on June 4th. I know, I'm crazy but that's OK, I like to live on the wild side!:)

We went to Visconti's for dinner the night before the big race. It was yummy. We surprised Anna with a gift(fun pampering stuff and $115 cash!) since she was doing her 10th marathon and she planned this whole weekend. That was no an easy feat, but it all went perfect thanks to her!
She had a little pep talk prepared and gave us all magnets and suckers. It was really nice. The suckers were for us all being suckers and following her on these adventures.

Here is the group of us before the race:

Top left: Jen Simeona, Tari Whitemarsh, Jill Green, me, Mindy Gailey, Carrie Holmes, Marci Sabin, Tasha Allen, Tiffany Shakespeare, Soila Todd, Vivian kerr, Kelly Benner, Marschell Lockwood. Bottom Left: Kathryn Ward, Lisa Saunders, Tamme Villegas, Stephanie Mondrut, Anna Conner, Lindsey Litchfield and Amy Richards. Not pictured: Teresa McConnell

Me and My sis! I was so proud of her for running a 10k. Before she knows it, she will be doing a half:)

the 3 crazy full marathon runners!

this is me at mile 19 when I'm about ready to meet up with Jill. My parents and sister were there to snap the picture and give me some water. It was so good seeing them. I was getting lonely.

Explaining to Jill and Mindy how much this sucks!

Couldn't of asked for a better welcome to the finish line! It will be on of those memories that I will never forget. Thanks ladies for being there!!!!!

After getting showered a few of us went and got an awesome massage(Thank you to Mindy who treated me to mine! It was pure heaven!) we then all went to Red Robin for a nice big juicy burger. It hit the spot!

These were my roomies. Carrie is missing because she had to head out early. We had a great time!

We had way to much junk food, stayed up way too late, talked, and played games. Needless to say we were all exhausted come 2am when we finally hit the pillow. We managed to make it back in time for church but after that I couldn't get off the couch. Like Sean always says, "you play, you pay!!!!" And I did!!!!

I was so grateful to have my parents there to support Mindy and I, and really all the girls. They were great photographers for us. Thanks mom and dad:)

Wenatchee Marathon April 16, 2011

I absolutely ADORE these 4 kiddos!

My Thoughts:

I was super excited to be able to make a book out of my blog posts. I love it. It is fun to look back and see what was going on in our lives. It is a great way to journal. Although I try to write in a journal as often as possible, this is fun because it has pictures and sometimes it is just random thoughts like today. I would encourage you to print yours. I have one book done and another one on the way. I have two more to print and then I will be caught up and do it only once a year. It is kind of spendy but so worth it. Cierra challenged me awhile back that if I stayed off Facebook for 40 days she would not eat candy for 40 days. Wow! That is a big thing for her. She loves candy. I knew it would be good for her and also for me so we did it. It has been 32 days! I have gotten a lot done and didn't really realize how much time I was on Facebook. It kind of sucks you in and an hour later you can't believe that much time has past. I think it is a great thing to be able to communicate with others but it is a time waster too. I will go back to it but I will not be on it as much as before. I have learned my lesson. Thank you sweet stubborn Cierra! I am one week away from my Wenatchee trip with about 25 friends. I'm so excited and super nervous. I can't wait to be with friends and have lots of fun together but I am so nervous about this marathon. This is my second one and I am more nervous for this one than my first. I feel like last time I had no expectations and I would just finish it. Now I feel like I need to beat my time and do better. I have put my whole heart into this training. I have logged close to 500 miles in 18 weeks. I ran one 20 miler, one 19 miler, two 18 milers and numerous other runs. My time has improved by about 45 seconds per mile and I feel strong. So now when the big day comes along, can I make it happen? I'm afraid of injury. I have had a little nagging pain in my leg and I have been icing it like crazy and it feels much better but who knows if it will come back when I'm running 26 miles. I guess we will see. I have seen too many injuries occur when you are testing your body to the limit. And running a marathon is definitely testing my body to the limit. Sean has been a great support to me. He keeps telling me I can do it and is very positive. I love him for that and so many other reasons! That is a whole another post, but for now, I guess all I can say is wish me luck and hopefully I will be back with good news. My last marathon was a 4:43 and I hope to get 4:30. That is knocking off 30 seconds per mile. Kind of a lot but I feel like I can do it.

Justin Bieber has lost a leg!

Yesterday was a sad day in the Elwell household, at least for Brooke. As her and Isaac were playing with her beloved Justin Bieber doll there was an accident with his leg. All I heard was crying coming from both of them and thought one of them had broken a leg. I went to investigate and Isaac was barely able to talk he was so upset. He had accidentally broke JB's leg. Brooke just looked at it and cried. I felt bad for both of them. Then today, Isaac and Kathryn save the day! I picked Isaac up from school and he was so excited. He couldn't wait until we were in the car before he told me he got Brooke a new JB doll and this one sings. He was so excited to come home and give it to Brooke as she got off the bus. Brooke was jumping all over the place she was so happy.

So, once again everything is just grand at the Elwell household. They are now busy playing with him.

(Thanks Kathryn and Isaac! Your the Best!)

Wild and Crazy Spring Break!

We didn't do anything too exciting this week but we had fun being together. We went on a bike ride to South Hill Park. That was fun but it was a little chilly. Connor and I had a date and went to see Diary of a Wimpy kid 2.( He brought along his friend Matthew). We had a play doh contest and I was the judge. See pictures below. I had to choose Brooke since she is the youngest. Isn't that how it works? Cierra's Brooke's

Can you guess?

Connor was busy doing this so he did not participate in the contest. He is always out here doing flips. He has only fallen off once when he was doing a flip and luckily he landed on his feet. He is a boy top to bottom!

He also went to the shooting range with grandpa. He loved it and can't stop talking about getting his hunting license and going hunting with him.

Sock's has been up to no good. I get one mouse head(sometimes two) and what I think may be the lungs delivered either to my laundry room or to the porch everyday. It is disgusting but inquiring minds needed to know so when I saw her with this mouse I watched what she did. Sure enough she ate the whole thing but the head and the lungs. I know! It's totally gross. Any suggesting on how to get her to stop? We have a field behind our house and I know she hunts all day long. I can't leave her in the house all day, she would go crazy.

I had to "borrow" some eggs from Anna(per her request) on April Fools Day and this is what we got. The kids loved it. They are cupcakes! Aren't they so cute?

Speaking of April Fool's, we got my sister! Kaylee called and told her I had fallen down the stairs. She started to freak out so Kaylee told her she was April Fools-ing her! Hehe!

We(the kids and I) and a few friends went to see HOP yesterday. Super cute movie.

So we just did things here and there this week but it was so nice to sleep in and spend time with the kids.

I finally talked Sean into going to the Great Wolf Lodge and we will be doing that later this month. I'm so excited...the kids are too.

Now if we could only get some more sun and less rain! I have 2 weeks until the Wenatchee Marathon and I am super excited! Can't wait. I am hoping to beat my time from my last one:)